Tonight the Capitals will be without Mike Green and Tom Poti, their top two defensemen, while forwards David Steckel and Donald Brashear are both questionable against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, where they'll be looking to snap a seven-game losing streak (0-6-1) that dates from 2004.

As a result, the Capitals are expected to recall at least "a player or two" from the minor league Hershey Bears, according to Coach Bruce Boudreau.

Green played the past five games with a shoulder injury, but the team officials decided it would be best if he did not suit up again until it heals. Poti, meantime, tweaked a groin muscle in the first period of the 7-1 loss at Wachovia Center and did not return. Neither Green nor Poti practiced yesterday.

Steckel has a cold, and Brashear suffered a leg injury after being slashed by the Flyers' Arron Asham.

The Capitals also won't have Alexander Semin (back) or Sergei Fedorov (ankle). Semin will miss his second consecutive game, while Fedorov will be sidelined for the 19th time in 22 games because of the injury.